Le Morte D'Arthur

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Transcript of Le Morte D'Arthur

Le Morte D'ArthurWhy is Le Morte D'Arthur Important?Main source for modern versions of the Arthurian legends First large collection of Arthurian tales in EnglishOne of the first books printed in EnglishThe first English novel?As many as six Thomas Malorys living at the timeEvidence from the text that he was both a knight and a prisonerSince the 19th century he is widely accepted as being Thomas Malory of Newbold Revel, a man with an extensive criminal record including rape, extortion, and robberyAttempts to prove it was anyone else have so far failed Who is Sir Thomas Malory?The Deeds and Misdeeds of Thomas Malory of Newbold RevelBorn between 1399 and 1418Served as a professional soldier for the Duke of WarwickKnighted by 14411443: Accused of robbery1449: Elected to parliamentJan. 1450: Accused of ambushing the Duke of BuckinghamMay 1450: Accused of extortionMay 1450: Accused of robbery and rapeAug. 1450: Accused of raping and kidnapping the same womanAug. 1450: Accused of extortionJune 1451: Accused of stealing 7 cows, 2 calves, 335 sheepJuly 1451: Accused of stealing 6 does and vandalizing a deer park belonging to the Duke of Buckingham25 July 1451: The Duke of Buckingham arrests Malory armed with 60 men-at-arms27 July 1451: Malory escapes by swimming the jailhouse moatAug. 1451: Recaptured and charged of all the aforementioned crimes, spends the next year in prisonOct. 1452: Bailed out of prisonOct. 1453: RearrestedMay 1454: Out againOct. 1454: Arrested for sheltering horse theives, fights his way out two weeks laterNov. 1454: Arrested againMay 1455: Moved to the Tower of London (which has an extensive library)Oct. 1457: Bailed out of prisonOct. 1462: Pardoned by newly crowned King Edward IVJune 1468: Having switched sides, is arrested for plotting against the kingJuly 1468: Is excluded by name from a general pardon1469-1470: Finishes Le Morte D'Arthur at some point during this yearFeb. & May 1470: Excluded by name from two more pardonsMar. 1471: Death of Sir Thomas Malory

Selections from books 20 and 21Covers the outing of Lancelot by Mordred and AgravaineCovers the rescue of Guinevere and slaying of Gawain's brothersSkips the battle between Arthur and LancelotSkips Mordred usurping the throne while Arthur is fighting Lancelot in FranceSkips the death of GawainCovers the deaths of Mordred and ArthurSkips Guinevere joining a conventCovers the deaths of Guinevere and Lancelot and much fanfare about Lancelot's deedsThe Death of ArthurLe Morte D'ArthurOriginally written as 8 separate romancesPrinted by William Caxton (1st English printer) as 21 books with 500+ short chaptersCompiled from the many French Arthurian romancesSome of the stories are reworked/rearrangedContains internal inconsistencies, the stories do not all fit together coherentlyThough written shortly after Chaucer, it is generally much easier for modern readersGrand themes of Chivalry, Loyalty, Love, and the ideal of the QuestQuestionsHow does a hardened criminal and general thug like Sir Thomas Malory come to write such an epic of Chivalry and Romantic ideals?QuestionsWhy is Lancelot forgiven by Arthur and still held up as the hero at the end of the story despite his betrayal ultimately causing the King's demise?